Thomas Armstrong (Construction) has won a £10m contract to build the Nuclear Academy at Lillyhall Industrial Estate near Workington, Cumbria.

Chairman of The Nuclear Academy, Dr Ian Hudson, said: "Securing a local contractor who understands the importance of developments like this to the long term future of the area gives us the confidence to achieve everything that is required from this important new facility."

The Nuclear Academy will be built on an 18-acre site between Jubilee and Blackwood Roads at Lillyhall. The two-storey, 61,300 sq ft building will contain engineering workshops, training and meeting rooms, a lecture theatre and business support facilities. Completion is due by spring 2009.

Construction by Maryport-based Thomas Armstrong will start on site shortly following the successful completion of ground works via a separate contract with Kier Northern.

The Nuclear Academy is one of many initiatives that form the Energy Coast Masterplan for the West Lakes area.

Bob Pointing, chief executive of West Lakes Renaissance, an urban regeneration company, and a board Member of the Nuclear Academy, said: "The Nuclear Academy is pivotal to creating a cluster of skills and training opportunities that will keep West Cumbria at the forefront of global nuclear expertise. This expertise is at the very centre of the Britain's Energy Coast Masterplan – a £2bn package of projects that will establish West Cumbria as a centre of excellence in energy production technology; creating thousands of new jobs and securing the long term economic prosperity for businesses and local communities."

Along with all major construction projects involving West Lakes Renaissance Thomas Armstrong will be maximizing the employment and training opportunities during the construction phase through the local labour and construction programme Routes To Work.